§ Mr. Hugh Fraserasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now seek to require all official bodies to list in their annual reports all their shareholding and investments in public and private companies.
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§ Mr. Joel BarnettAll Government Departments are already required to provide this information annually with their Appropriation Accounts. The National Enterprise Board is similarly required to provide with its annual accounts a statement of all its investments. Other official bodies with investments normally list them in their annual reports or accounts. If the right hon. Member has any particular case in mind, this would be a matter for the Minister of the Department which sponsors the body concerned.
§ Mr. Hugh Fraserasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now establish public central registries similar to Companies House in London, Cardiff and Edinburgh, for the filing of the annual reports of all official bodies.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettI see no need for this. Many official bodies are required to submit reports to the Minister concerned to be laid before the House, and these reports are available from Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Other reports not in this category are available on publication by the body itself.